St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-10-17
Stephen RaWson, a Chicago
Millionaire, Attacked by
His Stepson,
Just as He Emerged From
the Door of a High-Toned
Chicago Church.
Five Bullets Sent in Rapid
Succession Into the Old
Mans Body.
The Boys Crime Caused by
Charges Against His
Mothers Chastity.

CHICAGO. Oct. 1G.-In throng of
people at the church door of one of the
most fashionable congregations il Chi
dago a grey-haired millionaire bank
president was shot down to-day by his
Step-sOn, to ayengc or shield a woman
charged with continued adultery. The
woman was no less a person than Mrs.
Meckie RaWS0n. wife of the banker
shot, and mother of the aSSailant. The
banker is Stephen W. RaWsJn, presi-
dent of the Union Trust company. Chi
cago. William Lee, aged seventeen, Is
the StepSOn.
Banker Rawson with f b ,llets in
his body and apparently III (, dying con-
diti0n, was hastily picked off the blood
Spattered curb. and bundled into one of
the score of carriages that had been
waiting for the wealthy Worshipers.
Young Lee, with the empty and still
smoking revolver in his hand, was as
hurriedly thrown into a Strikingly diff
ferent conveyance, the blue painted
commonplace wagon of the nearest pO-
lice patrol that came rafting around
the corner. Away went the carriage in
one direction; off in the other dashed
the patrol, while all around ON the
streets and sidewalks gaped the horror
stricken attendants of the five great
churches in the vicinity Just pouring
out after the mornings praise OF Him
who commanded ''Thou shalt not kin, y
Thou shalt not commit adultery. .'''.~--
Slowly the crowds began to recover
their dazed senses and recall in detail
the fearful circumstances OF The crime.
Young Lee had been seen for half an
hour previous pacing the stone side
walk on Ashland avenue, near Madison,
fronting the Third Presbyterian church.
This is the church of which DR.. With
row. recently from Boston, is pastor,
and which eclme widely known as the
charge of DR.. kittredge, now located in
New York. OF this church Banker
RawSOn has long been
A LEADING LIGHT
and is still an hOnOred member, not
withStanding that he has been charged
by his wife with perjury and other Of
fenSes enough to make him, if true. a
veritable Whited Sepulcher. He on the
other hand alleged that she, although
a
woman in appearance, was really dis
reputable. blasphemouS, devilish-tem-
pered adventures, who coveted only
his money. For year or more the two
have been fighting each other in the
divorce courts, and within week the
banker has filed against her additional
charges of adultery.
Little attention had been paid to
young Lee as he Stalked backward and
forward past the church entrance. He
was lost in the crowd when the gaily
dressed congregation began to come out,
among them the well-known form of the
bank president. Mr.. RawSon was about
to step to his carriage when, breaking
the sweet, majestic tones of the great
organ, came the sharp crack of a revol-
yer. followed by deep groan. An
earthquake could scarcely have pro-
duced more confusion at the moment
among the throngS of gentlemen, ladies
and children, and the long tiers of car
riages and coachmen that lined the
sidewalks in every direction. A din of
screams began, but subsidized almost i'll
Stantly. Slender. well-dressed, youth
fuI Lee was seen to quickly but coolly
steady his shining pistol with his left
hand while with his right he again and
again pulled the fatal trigger. With the
stifled cry, I'm killed." the aged mill
ionaire fell PROSTATE on the stone flags,
upturning
HIS AGONIZED WHITE FACE
at the cold, set countenance of his
stepson. Not till the last of the five
chambers had been emptied into the old
mans body did Lee seem to breathe.
The crowd seemed rooted to the stones
in horror, helpless, till policeman
came running to the scene. Then began
a wild clamor, and Lee. turning to the
officer, hoarsely whispered, Take me
to jail, quick 1t seemed scarcely a
moment till the patrol wagon bore him
away. When the dying banker reached
his home sixphysicians had been called
They probed for the bullets and found
that all had lodged in the legs or arms
save one. That entered near the small
of the back, and as nearly as could be
judged, had plunged through his abdo
men. If his life was saved it would lie
little short of a miracle.
Over at the police station young Lee
was asking a reporter to carry Mrs
RawsOn, his mother, the news. She oc
cupies apartments at the Continental
hotel. The reporter sent up word that
he had extremely important business
and was presented without delay to a
plump, dark compleXiOned, handsome
woman in the prime of life, the mos
noticeable feature of whom was pail
of
SWAPPING BLACK EYES.
She was clad in a tasteful, tight fitting
dark dress and white Jacket.
well, what business have yo I?'' said she
''Then you have heard nothing eff youl
SOM
s'No; what is it:''
well, he has got into little trouble
'sGo on, what has he doneg'
''Well, he is arrested. He had some trouble
with Mr.. Rawson.''
"Go on and tell me what he has done
Don't keep me in suspense eagerly brc ke
iu the woman.
''ITe shot him-but it isn't serious; quickl,
added the reporter as Mrs Rawson closed
her eyes and trembled with excitement The
last portion of the sentence caused Mrs. Raw
sons eyelids to raise, and she brought hel
head up with jerk.
.sOh, don't be alarmed. am all right. &C
OF and tell me ALL"
''That is about all. He shot him severa
times and
: "Is he deadf'' eagerly broke in the woman
again.
cannot recover from his wounds
L